Ever wonder how to lower your energy bill without sweltering in the summer or freezing in the winter? According to the United States Department of Energy, proper insulation and air sealing can achieve energy savings of 10-20%. The estimated savings are even higher for older houses with little to no insulation. The best part is that you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg for professional installation. You can insulate an attic yourself.
We tend to think of insulation as a way to keep warm, but it also keeps your home cool. In containing air distribution to the living space, attic insulation prevents AC from escaping on hot summer days. Attic insulation can also help prevent structural damage caused by ice dams. Before you begin installing or upgrading insulation, inspect your attic for air leakage.
Pro Tip: Don’t sacrifice insulation depth to save money. The cost of hiring a contractor to insulate your roof primarily covers getting the crew and equipment on site. Using 8 inches of cellulose versus 16 inches of cellulose won’t save you much money in the grand scheme of things. Here are the IECC’s most recent recommendations for residential buildings, updated in 2021: – Climate Zone 1: R-30 – Climate Zones 2 or 3: R-49 – Climate Zones 4 – 8: R-60
If your attic contains damaged batt insulation, upgrade your batt insulation in a few easy steps: – Check that batts fit tightly on the ceiling’s drywall and framing edges. – Tighten end joists to prevent further batt separation/tearing. – Fill any gaps or voids with new pieces of insulation.